There’s been a high level of complexity to the results of the NBA finals thus far. Everything from the Lakers’ ball movement to the Celtics rebounding have influenced the outcome. But a consistent factor in deciding these games has been the output of the respective benches. And in Game 6, along with their starting counterparts, the Lakers’ bench finally showed up.

In the Lakers’ three losses in this series, their bench has scored just 37 points. In their three wins? 62. And 25 of those points came in Game 6. Lamar Odom is the real fifth starter for the Lakers, but tonight Sash Vujacic (Machine!)’s 9 points, to go with Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown’s understated 8 points combined were a huge difference.

LA outscored the Celtics 25-13 in bench points, and still held a 17-13 advantage without Odom. That Odom decided to actually make an impact (though only scoring 8 points) was just a bonus.

Farmar and Brown, when motivated as they often are by a home crowd, provide defensive intensity and transition buckets. Perhaps nothing so encapsulated the Lakers’ night than Farmar’s diving recovery of a loose ball, feeding Bryant for a transition drive that led to a foul. It was a perfect example of the kind of play that the bench failed to make in Boston and that the Lakers desperately needed in Game 6.

The Celtics’ bench is all primary bigs outside of Nate Robinson, but with the three headed monster of Farmar, Brown, and veteran’s veteran Derek Fisher, the Lakers overwhelmed Rajon Rondo, who had another absolutely horrific game.

Maybe it’s the roar of the celebrity crowd, maybe it’s the sunny weather, maybe it’s just the realization that they were needed tonight (along with an entire team effort that swarmed the Celtics). But whatever the reason, the Lakers’ bench stepped up tonight, and that’s part of the reason they get another game to make their final statement as to their importance on this top-loaded Lakers squad. If they play like they did tonight, they’ll have another ring as role players on a star studded team.

Where’s the Cavaliers down by one point with nine seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Rodney Hood took it upon himself to take what he thought would be the last shot for Cleveland. Hood danced around the defense before finally taking a jumper from the free-throw line, which bounced softly off the rim.

Nance, battling down low for the rebound, worked his way free for a tip-in as time expired.

What counts as collusion these days in the NBA? What counts as tampering? It’s hard to say, but the league office takes a look at each and every comment like the one LeBron James made on Tuesday about New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis.

Speaking to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James said it would be incredible if Davis were somehow able to make his way onto the Los Angeles Lakers. This slots into the rumor around the NBA that LA is stockpiling its young core to be able to trade for a player like Davis.

“That would be amazing,” James told ESPN on Tuesday before the Lakers’ 115-110 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. “That would be amazing, like, duh. That would be incredible.”

There’s nothing much here that LeBron said that isn’t factual. Davis is a 5-time All-Star and one of the best players in the NBA, a unicorn not unlike LeBron himself.

The NBA is certainly hoping that the Lakers can get their act together and put a powerhouse around James at Staples Center. How he does it is up for debate, although making comments about current players probably isn’t the best idea. James has been able to keep his mouth shut for the most part, but perhaps talk of Davis is just too tempting.

But was Harden called for a travel by officials? No. At least, not at first.

Video of Harden’s ridiculous shuffle was circulated on social media after the Houston Rockets beat the Utah Jazz, 102-97. Harden was asked about the move by media, and said that he wasn’t going to tell on himself, which is fair enough.

On Tuesday the official NBA referee Twitter page decided to comment on the play at hand, admitting that they had made a mistake and had missed a travel.

Via Twitter:

The offensive player gathers the ball while on his right foot. He then takes a step with his left foot (step 1) into a hop step, landing first with his right foot (step 2) and then illegally with his left (step 3). We missed this one – it is a traveling violation. https://t.co/BqMAoZHgIu

Having a Twitter account hasn’t always worked out for the NBRA. Their explanations of what many would consider to be violations have often stood in the face of common sense. To that end, they’ve sometimes been mocked on social media, which is against their goal of having the social channel in the first place. But this play with Harden was a particular sore subject with fans around the league, and it was right of them in to make a comment.

LeBron James is seemingly and ageless wonder. The Los Angeles Lakers forward is still one of the most athletic players to ever grace an NBA court, and despite his obvious physical decline, that’s not to say he’s a slouch out there. He’s not exactly late-career Boris Diaw just yet.

But LeBron is now 34 years old, and as such there are other players on the floor with him at any given time that have a bit more bounce than The King. James found that out the hard way on Tuesday night as the Lakers took on the Brooklyn Nets in New York.

During a play early in the first quarter, James drove to the basket only to be rejected by Brooklyn’s Jarrett Allen at the rim.